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DR. BR AMBEDKAR NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

HISTORY-II

FINAL SUBMISSION

VIJAYNAGAR EMPIRE: ADMINISTRATION AND POLITY

Submitted to- Dr. Sanjeev Kumar

Submitted by- Mansi (Section “B”) Enrolment No. – 1901057

B.A., LL.B, 1st YEAR, II SEMESTER

INTR INTRO ODUC DUCTTION At the point when Muhammad Tughlaq was losing his capacity in Deccan, the two Hindu sovereigns, Harihar and Bukka established an autonomous realm in the district between the waterway Krishna and Tungabhadra in 1336. They before long settled their influence over the whole region between the streams, Krishna, in the north and Cauveri in the south. The rising forces of the Vijayanagar domain brought it into conflict with numerous forces and they regularly battled wars with the Bahmani realm. The most renowned lord of the Vijaynagara Empire was Krishnadeva Raya. The Vijayanagar realm arrived at the apex of its brilliance during his rule. He was fruitful in all the wars he pursued. He vanquished the ruler of Odisha and attached Vijaywada and Rajmahendri. Krishnadeva Raya energized exchange with the western nations. He had a warm relationship with the Portuguese who had around then settled exchange fixates on the west shoreline of India. He was an incredible warrior, but on the other hand, was a writer and an extraordinary supporter of learning. Telegu writing thrived under him. Painting, figure, and music were extraordinarily empowered by him and his replacements. He charmed himself to the individuals by his appeal, graciousness, and a perfect organization. The decrease of the Vijayanagar realm started with the passing of Krishnadeva Raya in 1529. The realm concluded in 1565 when Ramrai was vanquished at Talikota by the joint endeavors of Adilshahi, Nizamshahi, Qutubshahi, and Baridshahi. After this, the realm broke into little states.

VIJAY VIJAYNA NA NAG GAR Vijayanagar, (Sanskrit: "The City of Victory") extraordinary demolished city in southern India and the name of the domain decided first from that city and later from Penukonda (in present-day southwestern Andhra Pradesh state) among 1336 and around 1614. The site of the city, on the Tungabhadra River, is currently somewhat involved by the town of Hampi in eastern Karnataka express; the remnants at Hampi were assigned a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. The city and its first administration were established in 1336 by five children of Sangama, of whom Harihara and Bukka turned into the city's first rulers. In time Vijayanagar turned into the best realm of southern India. By filling in as a boundary against intrusion by the Muslim sultanates of the north, it cultivated the remaking of Hindu life and organization after the disarranges and disunities of the twelfth and thirteenth hundreds of years. Contact with the Muslims (who were not by and by despised) animated new ideas and imaginative profitability. Sanskrit was empowered as a bringing together power, and provincial literary works flourished. Behind its boondocks, the nation thrived in unexampled harmony and success. The primary administration, the Sangama, went on until around 1485, when—during a period of weight from the Bahmanī ruler and the raja of Orissa—Narasimha of the Saluva family usurped power. By 1503 the Saluva line had been superseded by the Tuluva line. The remarkable Tuluva ruler was Krishna Deva Raya. During his rule (1509–29) the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna waterways (the Raichur doab) was obtained (1512), the Orissa Hindus were stifled by the catch of Udayagiri (1514) and different towns, and serious annihilations were

perpetrated on the Bijapur king (1520). Krishna Deva's replacements, be that as it may, permitted their foes to join against them. In 1565 Rama Raya, the central priest of Vijayanagar, drove the realm into the deadly fight at Talikota, in which its military was steered by the joined powers of the Muslim conditions of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda and the city of Vijayanagar was annihilated. Tirumala, sibling of Rama Raya, at that point held onto control of the realm and established the Aravidu tradition, which set up another capital at Penukonda and kept the domain unblemished for a period. Inward discords and the interests of the kings of Bijapur and Golconda, be that as it may, prompted the last breakdown of the realm around 1614. BA BAHAM HAM HAMA ANI KI KIN NGD GDO OM The Muslim realm of Bahmani was set up by certain nobles of the Deccan who rebelled against the severe strategies of Sultan Muhammed Tughlaq. In 1347, Hasan turned into the ruler under the title Abdul Muzaffar Ala-Ud-Din Bahman Shah and established the Bahmani tradition. This administration went on for around 175 years and had 18 rulers. At the stature of its magnificence, the Bahmani realm reached out from the north of Krishna stream up to the Narmada and extended eastwest from the shores of the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. The leaders of Bahmani were regularly at war with the neighboring Hindu realm Vijayanagar. The most recognized figure of the Bahmani realm was Mahmud Gawan, who was the chief clergyman of the state - Amir-ul-ulmra for more than two decades. He battled numerous wars, quelled numerous lords, and attached numerous domains to the Bahmani realm. Inside the realm, he improved the organization, sorted out funds, supported government-

funded training, transformed income framework, taught armed force, and expelled defilement. A man of character and honesty, he was held in high regard by the Deccani gathering of nobles, particularly Nizam-ulMulk, and their maneuvers prompted his execution. With this, began the decrease of the Bahmani domain, which concluded with the demise of its last lord Kalimullah in 1527. From that point, the Bahmani Empire was broken down into five provincial free territories - Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Bidar, and Golkonda. ADMI ADMIN NIST ISTRA RA RATIO TIO TION N OF IN INDIA DIA UND NDER ER B BAH AH AHAM AM AMA ANI KI KING NG NGD DON The rulers of the Bahmani kingdom accepted Abbasaid-Khalifas as their overlord though, in fact, they were independent rulers and behaved accordingly. The first ruler of the kingdom, Bahman Shah could not get much time to look after the administration as he mostly remained busy in fighting. Muhammad Tughluq had divided his territories in the Deccan into four provinces. Bahman Shah kept that arrangement as it was except that he appointed his own officers everywhere. Muhammad Shah I divided the kingdom into four Atrafs (provinces) whose capitals were Daultabad, Berar, Bidar and Gulbarga respectively. Provincial governors called Tarfdars with extensive administrative and military powers were appointed in each of these provinces. Tarfdar collected revenue from his province, organised the provincial army and appointed all civil and military officers of his province. Sometimes Tarfdars were appointed ministers of the king as well. When the kingdom became further extensive and Mahmud Gavan worked as prime minister, the number of provinces was raised from four to eight. Mahmud Gavan attempted to restrict the powers of provincial governors and, for that purpose, fixed some

land as the land of the Sultan in each province which was managed by the officers of the central government. Provinces or Atrafs were divided into Sarkars and Sarkars were divided into Paraganas for the convenience of administration. The lowest unit of the administration was the village. The head of the state was the Sultan who enjoyed all executive, legislative and judicial powers within the state. There was no legal limit to his powers and some of them called themselves the representatives of God on earth. But, in practice, the powers of the Sultan were limited by the powers and advice of powerful ministers and nobles. The Sultan was assisted by ministers in the administration. The prime minister was called Vakil-us-Sultanat, the finance minister Amir-i-Jumla and the foreign minister Vazir-i-Asraf. There were two other ministers called the Vazir-i-kul and the Peshwa but their responsibilities were not fixed up. Sometimes the provincial Tarfdars were also appointed as ministers. The chief judicial officer, after the Sultan, was called the Sadr-i-Jahar. Besides being the judicial officer, he looked after religious affairs and charitable works performed by the state. The Bahmani kingdom constantly fought against neighbouring Hindu states and therefore, had to keep a large standing army. The head of the army, after the Sultan, was called the Amir-ulumra. The Sultan kept his personal bodyguards called the Khas-iKhel. The Bahmani kingdom maintained an artillery as well besides the cavalry, the infantry and war-elephants. Shihabuddin Ahmad I introduced Mansabdari system in the army wherein the military officers were assigned jagirs according to their mansabs or ranks to meet the expenses of the armies raised by them. The civilian officers were also assigned mansabs with a view to fix up their salaries.

However, the Jagirdars were required to submit the statement of their income and expenditure to the Central government. The officers incharge of forts, Kiledars were also directly responsible to the central government. Sultans, mansabdars and the nobles enjoyed all sorts of luxuries which was a proof that the Bahmani kingdom was prosperous. However, no evidence is available regarding condition of ordinary people. Probably, as in other parts of India, the common people led a simple life. The Bahmani kingdom helped in the growth of Muslim culture in south India. Followers of Islam from north India and foreign countries established themselves in the Bahmani kingdom. Different rulers patronized Muslim scholars and religious preachers. Even after the disintegration of the Bahmani kingdom, the rulers of those states which arose on the ruins of it patronized Muslim saints, scholars, artists, etc., and constructed madarsas and several other buildings, and, thus, participated in spreading the Muslim culture in south India. The conflict with Hindu rulers of south India also forced the rulers of the Bahmani kingdom to provide political and cultural leadership to Islam in the South. Thus, the Bahmani kingdom contributed towards the politics and culture of south India for a long time.

Fou Founda nda ndatio tio tion: n: The Vijayanagara kingdom was founded by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty in 1336. At the instance of their guru Vidyaranya, they established their kingdom with its capital at Vijayanagar.

Harihara became the first ruler, and by 1346 the whole of Hoysala kingdom passed into the hands of the Vijayanagara rulers. Bukka succeeded his brother on the throne of Vijayanagara in 1336 and ruled till 1337. By 1337, the Sultanate of Madurai had been annexed. The interests of the Vijayanagara rulers and the Bahamani kingdom which had come into existence in 1347, clashed in three separate and distinct areas: in the Tungabhadra doab, in the Krishna- Godavari delta and in the Marathwada country. The beginning of the Vijayanagar-Bahmani conflict started on a large scale during the reign of Bukka I in 1367. He also sent an embassy to the Emperor of China. Under Harihara II (1377-1406) Vijayananara Empire embarked upon a policy of eastern expansion. He was able to maintain his position in the face of the Bahmani-Warangal combination. He invaded Ceylon Deva Raya I (1406-22) was defeated by the Bahmani ruler Firoz Shah in 1407. He had to give his daughter in marriage to Firoz Shah. He defeated the Reddis of Kondavidu and recovered Udayagiri. In 1419, he defeated Firoz Shah. Deva Raya II (1422-1446) was the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty. He began the practice of employing Muslims in the army. He was called Immadi Deva Raya. In his inscriptions he has the title of Gajabetekara (the elephant hunter). Dindima was his court poet. Abdur Razzak of Persia visited his kingdom. Deva Raya II is the author of two Sanskrit works Mahanataka Sudhanidhi and a commentary on the Brahmasutras of Badrayana.

There was confusion in the Vijayanagara Empire after the death of Deva Raya II. Since the rule of primogeniture was not established, there was a series of civil wars among the contenders. After some time, the throne was usurped by the king’s minister Saluva Narsimha and the Saluva dynasty was established. Salu asty (1 Saluva va dy dyn nasty (14 486 86-150 -150 -1505 5): Vira Narsimha (1503-04) the regent of Immadi Narasimha, usurped the throne after his assassination and laid the foundation of the Tuluva dynasty in 1505. Tulu Tuluva va ddyn yn ynasty asty (1 (15 50505-157 157 1570 0): Vira Narasimha had the title of Bhujabala (1505-09). After his brief reign, he was succeeded by his younger brother Krishna Deva Raya (1509-30 A.D.) who was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire. Under him, Vijayanagara emerged as the strongest military power in the south. He defeated the rebellious chiefs of Ummattur, the Gajapatis of Orissa and Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. He successfully invaded Gulbarga and Bidar and restored the puppet Sultan Mahmud to the throne. To commemorate this act of restoration he assumed the title of’ Yavanarajya Sthapanacharya’ (The restorer of the Yavana kingdom). He conquered almost the whole of Telangana from the Gajapati king Pratapraudra and the Sultan of Golcunda. Krishna Deva Raya maintained friendly relations with Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor whose ambassador Friar Luis resided at Vijayanagar. His relations with Portuguese were governed by two factors:

(a) Common enemity with Bijapur. (b) The supply of imported horses by the Portuguese to Vijayanagar. Krishna Deva Raya was also a great patron of art and literature, and was known as Andhra Bhoja. He was the author of the Telugu work Amuktamalyada and one Sanskrit work Jambavati Kalyanam. His court was adorned by the Ashtadiggajas (the eight celebrated poets), of whom, Allasani Peddana was the greatest. His important works include Manucharitam and Harikatha Saramsamu. Krishna Deva Raya also built the famous temples of Krishnaswamy, Hazara Ramaswamy and Vitthalaswamy at his capital. Foreign travellers like Nuniz, Barbosa and Paes speak of his efficient administration and the prosperity of his empire. After the death of Krishna Deva Raya, the struggle for succession followed among his relations. After the uneventful reigns of Achyuta Raya and Venkata, Sadasiva Raya ascended the throne in 1543. But the real power was in the hands of Rama Raja, theson-in law of Krishna Deva. The Bahmani rulers except Berar combined to inflict a crushing defeat on Vijayanagar in the Battle of Talikota or Rakshasa- Tangadi in 1565. This battle is generally considered to mark the end of the great age of Vijayanagara. Although the kingdom lingered on for almost one hundred years under the Aravidu dynasty founded by Tirumala Raya with its capital at Penugonda, it came it to an end in 1672. ADMI ADMIN NIST ISTRA RA RATIO TIO TION N AN AND D POL POLITY ITY Vijayanagar Empire which lasted for more than two hundred years in the Deccan had a well-organised administrative system. It was on account of

this system that there was an all-round prosperity in the state. Under the leadership of its several rulers, the state made a remarkable progress in the economic, cultural, political and social fields. Many foreigner visitors like Nicolo (onti-ltalian), Abdul Razaq (Persian) and Dominigos Pius (Portuguese) etc. have praised the prosperity of the state. Kingship Krishnadeva Raya, the greatest ruler of the Kingdom of Vijayanagara explains the position of Kingship in his book ‘Amuktamalyda” that a King should gather round him people skilled in state craft and seek their advice and help in administration. He further writes, “A crowned king should always rule with an eye towards Dharma”. The ruler was a benevolent despot. He was the head of the state and was regarded as the God’s representative on earth. The king was the supreme authority in civil, military and judicial matters. The king, however, was assisted and guided by a council of ministers. He was an enlightened and benevolent ruler. COU COUNCI NCI NCILL OF MI MINIS NIS NISTTERS The king was assisted by ministers who were nominated by the king. The ministers were appointed from the three classes i.e. The Brahmans, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishayas. The office of the minister was sometimes hereditary. The three important key posts of the state were the Prime Minister, the Chief Treasurer and the Prefect of the Police. Rule of two rulers simultaneously. Sometimes two rulers ruled at the same time-a strange practice and perhaps the only one in history; Hari Har I and his brother Bukka Rai ruled at the same time. Likewise Vijay Rai and Dev Rai ruled at the same time.

Pro Provin vin vincia cia ciall aadm dm dminis inis inistra tra tratio tio tion: n: For purpose of administration, the empire was divided into 6 provinces. A province was called Prant, or Rajya. Each province was under a viceroy or Nayak who was either a member of the royal family or influential noble of the state. Every viceroy enjoyed civil, military and judiciary powers within the province. He was required to submit regularly account of the income and expenditure to the central government. Dece Decen ntra tralis lis lised ed aadm dm dmin in inist ist istrat rat ration ion ion:: The rulers of Vijayanagar a adopted the principle of the decentralisation of political power. The empire was, divided into provinces prants, districts, ‘Nadus’, ‘Melagrams’ and ‘grams’. Administration of the villages was autonomous. Loca Locall aad dmin minist ist istra ra ration: tion: The province was divided into smaller units. The village was the smallest unit. It was self-sufficient. The village assembly (Panchayat) was responsible for the administration of the village. Village accountant and the village watchman were the hereditary officers. These officers were paid either by grants of land or from a portion of the agricultural produce. Nay Nayan an ankar kar sy syste ste stem m ooff aadm dm dmin in inistr istr istratio atio ation n: Under this system, the ruler assigned a land track to officials in lieu of pay i.e. for maintaining themselves and that of their army from the land track itself. These officials or landlords provided military service to the ruler. Sou Sourc rc rces es of rrev ev evenu enu enue: e:

Land revenue was the chief source of income. Land was divided into four categories for purposes of assessment, wet land, dry land, orchards and woods. Usually the share was one sixth of the produce. Land revenue could be paid in cash or kind. The rates varied according to the type of the crops, soil, method of irrigation, etc. Apart from land revenue, other taxes were: irrigation tax, grazing tax and import- export duties on merchandise goods. Ad Admin min minist ist istra ra ration tion of ju just st stice: ice: The king was the highest authority or the supreme court of justice. His word was final. Petitions were presented to the king or the Prime Minister by all those who had a grievance and these were disposed of according to the principles of Hindu Law. Punishments were very severe. Torture was used to find out the truth from the alleged culprit. Death sentence, mutilation of the limbs of the body and confiscation of property were the deterrent punishments for the criminals. In the villages, panchayats dispensed justice for ordinary crimes. Mi Milita lita litary ry oorg rg rgani ani aniza za zation tion tion:: The army consisted of infantry, cavalry, artillery and camels. The rulers of the Vijayanagar a empire neglected naval power. The rulers recruited Turkish archers in the army. The military organisation was rather weak and its primary weakness was artillery. According to Domingos Paes, a foreign traveller, Krishna Deva Raya’s army included 703,000 infantry, 32600 cavalry and 551 elephants, besides an unaccounted host of camp followers. Chariots had gone out of use. The efficiency of the huge army was not proportionate to the number of force.

Splen Splend dou ourr of the co cour ur urt: t: The court of the rulers of Vijayanagara was known for its grandeur and splendour. It was atte...